Grasslands

Grasslands are herbaceous habitats where woody plants are absent or contribute less than 10 percent of the vegetative cover. Many native grasses are perennial bunch grasses, and these have often been replaced by annual grasses and forbs from the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and northern Africa. Nevertheless, California grasslands still support many native plants. In the spring, lupines, clovers, poppies, and various bulbs provide colorful displays. Grasslands provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including ground squirrels and small mammals. Snakes and lizards are common too, but birds probably make up the majority of wildlife species. Grasslands provide foraging habitat for the Swainson’s hawk, a California threatened Species and the San Joaquin kit fox, a federal endangered species.